tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19843685259834757752018-03-08T07:26:10.490-07:00Penpal from Southern Coloradobeing a record of letters sent and received, occasional book reviews and general observations upon life.Troy Mayfieldnoreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-64628639675670604062016-07-12T17:53:00.001-06:002016-07-12T17:58:35.092-06:00Bullet Journal - Follow-up
I've continued to use the bullet journal idea to try and keep most of my stuff in the same pile on most days. I don't have an "important" job with tons of appointments, but I always have little tasks and priorities to take care of. I no longer need that big old Daytimer binder with the pre-printed pages and since I'm becoming more of a free spirit as I get older, I really enjoy the free-form Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-67895211159164838332013-10-19T10:06:00.001-06:002013-10-21T05:48:25.407-06:00Bullet Journal - Week 1
As threatened, here are some of my thoughts after trying the bullet journal for about 1 week. I am including some photos of my notes before I tried this method and what they look like after just a few days.
I chose to use the Field Notes book I started using on October 8. I anticipate that this particular notebook may not be large enough, but, I really like the portability.
Here is the Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-78073927347929909622013-10-17T14:19:00.001-06:002013-10-17T17:45:00.838-06:00Bullet JournalI am trying out a new organizational strategy called Bullet Journal. Check out the link and let me know what you think.
I will be sharing a few pictures of my approach in the next few days. I may have shared in the past that I am a planner geek, but I have discovered that I really don't want to keep carrying around that big old planner binder anymore. So I am adapting this method to a simple Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-61409819182070018882013-04-13T20:35:00.001-06:002013-04-13T20:40:17.927-06:00A little Pencil SketchingI write my letters with a fountain pen. However, lately, I've become enamored with pencils and a little bit of sketch drawing. Here are a couple of rough drawings I made today.
Critical feedback is welcomed.Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-69217561506188034862013-04-02T05:59:00.001-06:002013-04-02T06:44:31.884-06:00Bifocal wearing hipster? Field Notes and Blackwing PencilI have always been a list writer. I like little books. I like pencils. So I bit the metaphorical bullet and purchased some Field Notes books and a box of Palomino Blackwing 602 pencils. Look for a review of each in the near future.
I must finish this Clairefontaine book before I start on the Field Notes.
Here is your humble blogger styling the new nausea inducing no lines progressive lens Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-86096940875428999162013-02-10T14:13:00.001-07:002013-02-10T14:15:09.908-07:00Month of Letters UpdateThis week for the Month of Letters, I am using Noodler's Green Marine in my fountain pens. Thus far in February, I have sent 15 letters out and have 2 postcards to reply to tonight.
I have told a few of my penpals that I gave up my super smart Android phone. I discovered that my old dumb LG phone will allow me to post to this blog, so this is a dumbpost.Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-34208496399224337342013-02-02T17:54:00.001-07:002013-02-03T06:59:16.635-07:00TypewriterGuess what? My wife decided to spend a very small amount of money on typewriters. She bought a his and hers model. Guess who get's which?
A couple of my pen pals will be getting typed letters this week. Specifically the letters are going to The Snail Mailer and The Post Muse.
Wilson decided to get in on the fun!
Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-14775323087389151082013-01-29T11:25:00.001-07:002013-01-29T11:44:46.445-07:00Getting ready for LettermoI participated in the Month of Letters Challenge in 2012. It was a fun and intense time. I thought I would do again, but this year, I plan to pace myself a bit.
The Month of Letters challenge is quite simple-write and mail one letter per day for each day the post office is open in February. I think I wrote and sent over 40 letters last year! Head over to Month Of Lettersto sign up and check Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-84887783275534683892012-09-30T20:10:00.000-06:002012-09-30T20:13:49.543-06:00I got mail!
I was away for a few days at a workshop and came home to find a letter from Angie at Mailbox Happiness and Becky at Leaving a Paper Trail . Both sent me wonderful letters in creative envelopes. Angie made her envelope and Becky used one of her new typewriters to compose her letter. I am fortunate to have such good penfriends!
Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-26866954837182086952012-09-24T18:59:00.000-06:002012-09-24T18:59:30.950-06:00Mangled MailAvert your eyes if you have a delicate constitution!
I just knew that I would get some mail this week as I sent several pen pal letters last week. I was not disappointed, but I never really expected to find this! The ominous clear plastic "WE CARE" bag surrounded the carcass of a fantastically penned letter from Joel.
Joel is my pen pal from St. Peter, Minnesota who I met this summer. He hasTroy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-87177342417474856212012-09-21T19:24:00.000-06:002012-09-22T05:42:46.277-06:00I'm still alive! and a notebook followup!I am back! No seriously, I am, so my legion of follower can rejoice!
We are all moved into southern Colorado and have already completed 6 weeks of school. We are having a ball. We love the 4 day school week and 3 day weekend, every week!
So, over the past 7 months or so, I have been carrying a little pocket notebook. It is my faithful companion in my hip pocket. I have been using the Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-33995933073780923232012-07-23T20:34:00.000-06:002012-07-23T20:35:17.925-06:00Meeting a Pen Pal in real life!
Serendipity happens.
In February, I participated in the Month of Letters. I gained a few new pen pals. Joel happened to be one of those. Take a look at some of my older posts to see some of his fantastic handwriting.
I just happened to be in his town over the past two weeks for a class I am teaching. So, Joel and I got together for supper and to talk pens and to let him show off his Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-32013334961994399802012-05-14T09:52:00.000-06:002012-05-14T09:52:03.644-06:00Notice a difference?I have not been a very good blogger or pen pal for that matter. That sort of happens when you discover that you are looking for gainful employment.
I am happy to announce that I have found it! I have been offered a teaching position in southern Colorado about 60 miles from where I grew up. These are the mountains that I saw every day as a child and will be able to see in the distance when we Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-10583144690625963832012-04-09T17:13:00.000-06:002012-04-09T17:14:18.811-06:00I like knives!My last post made me realize that I seem to have another slight obsession about pocket knives.
I purchased this knife at the New Mexico State Fair in 1981 and it has been a faithful companion since then.
This knife is in my pocket, probably, 3 weeks out of every month.
I also pulled out the knives that rotate through my pocket.
These 'junior' trappers, along with the old Uncle Henry, all seem Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-33873199250291205752012-04-01T17:27:00.001-06:002012-04-01T17:54:49.842-06:00Now That's a Knife!The internet is a funny thing. I mean, you go to research something and 6 hours later you have found The Red Hot Chili Peppers covering the Beach Boys here and you know that it costs 2.4 cents to make a penny. Not that your time was wasted or anything.
However, occasionally even a blind hog can find an acorn. I'm not certain how I arrived at Modern Vintage Man, but I did. Tim and Matt are Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-80415612921476758692012-03-30T19:26:00.000-06:002012-03-30T19:26:28.276-06:00DelayedDear legion of reader,
I have a problem with my back, primarily with muscles in my upper back, neck and shoulder. This little problem means that I am having a really hard time holding a pen to write. I am getting better, but, I don't know when my ability to hold a pen will come back and allow me to write again. So, be patient. All of the letters I have received in the past week, will be Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-21560460720723030482012-03-15T21:17:00.000-06:002012-03-15T21:17:18.297-06:00Back and well, it wasn't that long! Working on a bookHi all, I'm back. I guess my hiatus was more of a hia...
I have a new project. My sister spent a great deal of time making a family tree for all of us in honor of our parent's Golden Wedding Anniversary. It turned out great.
Now, I am not quite of the older generation, but I am getting close to that stage, so I thought to myself that I really don't know stories beyond my own grandparents Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-79422738333231397012012-03-02T17:56:00.001-07:002012-03-02T17:56:58.855-07:00NotebooksI probably have too many notebooks. But each one was purchased with a specific purpose in mind.
This is my log of mail received. It is a simple Clairefontaine Life Unplugged pocket size notebook.
I use this one at school to capture notes of what is happening in each class.
I keep a journal in a Quo Vadis Habana.
I'm keeping some Bible Study notes in a Rhodia Webnotebook.
And I use this Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-53119657434970793342012-02-28T17:51:00.001-07:002012-02-28T17:56:26.525-07:00Why Don't He Write?There is a scene in "Dances With Wolves" where Lt. Dunbar is inspecting a skeleton with an arrow through the ribs. Timmons, the mule skinner, ambles up and says, "Somewhere back east, somebody saying, 'Why don't he write?'" Type the part in single quotes into youtube and you will see something that I thought of this week. Why don't he write?
Sometimes in the frenzy of letter and journal Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-919726232207975272012-02-25T09:16:00.000-07:002012-02-25T09:16:32.196-07:00Noodler's Flex Nib Fountain PenI took leave of my senses last week and ordered two new Noodler's Flex pens from Goulet Pens. They arrived yesterday. So I patiently unwrapped the package and got those bad boys out.
This is a green demonstrator.
This is a simple black pen.
I thought I would begin by writing a bit with my older Noodler's Flex Nib pen. I believe this was made in 2010.
These are not expensive fountain pens. Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-82241360391378561292012-02-21T19:02:00.001-07:002012-02-21T19:02:02.884-07:00Wow, mail!I was so excited as I plowed through the pile of catalogs, junk mail and bills to find FIVE letters!
I looked through and found 2 penpal letters and 3 letters from A Month of Letters writers.
Becky from Leaving a Paper Trail sent me a neat little envelope book with a letter and a few sheets of pretty stationery.
She hints that I, even if I don't do mailart, I just might jazz it up a little Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-4283072468899823492012-02-14T19:17:00.000-07:002012-02-14T19:17:21.803-07:00Happy Valentine's Day! (does that need an apastrophe? ;) )My grandfather Wilson Mayfield's middle name was Valentine. He was born on Christmas Day in 1902. So Valentine's day is pretty cool in my house.
My Wilson Mayfield (he of the blue tongue) gave me and Carla the best little Valentine surprise this morning!
$1.10 and 5 kisses and the greatest note ever!!!!!!!
Later in the day, a few cookies were delivered to Holyoke School 3A.
When I got home,Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-27051340062472787732012-02-13T19:12:00.000-07:002012-02-13T19:19:04.536-07:00Whoa, handwritingI came home today expecting the normal pile of catalogs and junk in the mail. Imagine my surprise to see this!
Joel is a fellow participant in lettermo and also a member of The Fountain Pen Network. He sent me a fantastic introductory letter, written with a fountain pen and with an ink that gives great shading and in some of the most amazing cursive handwriting I have ever seen!
Isn't that justTroy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-54328409889281810492012-02-11T16:54:00.000-07:002012-02-11T17:14:32.588-07:00Bad Blogger Recovery - Thanks AngieHave I mentioned that I am a bad globber? I am. I don't take photos of all of the mail I receive and immediately post it. Sorry.
No, I am much more obsessed with handwriting and handwriting MY responses to the many letters I receive. And I am proud to say that I hope to pass on the handwriting to my youngest.
Wilson takes his cursive very seriously!
I received a letter today from Angie, Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1984368525983475775.post-17637747981496417952012-01-30T06:14:00.001-07:002012-01-30T06:19:56.806-07:00A Month of Letters?
Like many of my penpals, I spend entirely too much time reading about mail and fountain pens and letter writing and calligraphy on THE INTERNET! However, occasionally, you find a nugget among the tailings (not that I am comparing any of the blogs I follow as mine tailings!) as you dig around the morass that is the web.
This morning I happened upon a thread at the Fountain Pen Network that Troy Mayfieldhttps://plus.google.com/115883409855919012053noreply@blogger.com4